How to Take Cornell Notes for Beginners: Notes, Cues, Summary, Self-Quiz, and Review Days

Students and adults new to Cornell notes use this beginner template for about 20 minutes on class day to write notes, cues, and a summary, make their own questions, and set review days. The whiteboard has 4 pages: page 1 sets the class, goal, and questions; page 2 is a table with the cue column on the left and the notes column on the right; page 3 covers the notes so you answer from the questions alone, then closes with a 3-line summary; page 4 sets review days after 1 day, 1 week, and before the test, starting with what you could not say. The task board has four columns - before class, writing, waiting for review, and reviewed - with 4 parent tasks, one per page, and 3 subtasks each. The core of Cornell notes is making questions the notes answer and explaining them in your own words, so you review only the weak spots. Use one board per class.